THE BONACKERS Documentary
Produced & Directed by
Joanne Friedland Roberts
THE BONACKERS is the evolving story of the women and men whose families have fished and farmed the land and seas of the East End of Long Island for almost 400 years. Struggling to survive in the midst of the mansion filled Hamptons, they may well be the last of their kind.
Produced and directed by Joanne Friedland Roberts, this 60-minute documentary introduces us to the descendants of East Hampton’s first European settlers, who share their history, traditions, wisdom and hopes for the future on their boats and bays and in their pick-up trucks, fields, farms, and homes.
Roberts created THE BONACKERS to draw attention to the plight of the Bonac community, inspiring us to think more deeply about what we stand to lose if centuries old cultures like this one disappear. Interviews with fishermen, farmers, historians and members of the indigenous population explore the adverse impact of gentrification, government regulations, pollution and climate change along with potential opportunities for evolution.
Originally broadcast in prime-time on Long Island’s local PBS station, WLIW-TV in April 2025, THE BONACKERS is available on PBS Passport and Kanopy’s streaming service. Our documentary is being aired on PBS stations nationally too, so be on the lookout at your local stations.
While THE BONACKERS is about one small town on the East End of Long Island, our story is being replicated across the country, where old ways of life are dying out, and local economies are forced to change. We all have a lot to learn from the down to earth wisdom and deep-seated values of the men and women who’ve shared their knowledge, sagas and stories in our documentary.
Watching
THE BONACKERS Documentary
THE BONACKERS initial TV broadcast in 2025, on PBS’ WLIW 21, generated widespread praise from long-time locals and second-homeowners on the East End, along with audiences across Long Island, NYC, NJ, and CT.
PBS News Anchor Hari Sreenivassan’s insightful interview with Producer/Director Joanne Friedland Roberts, continued a fascinating exploration of what’s next for THE BONACKERS.
We had numerous full-house screenings this past year, and closed out 2025 at Sag Harbor Cinema in December.
For all of you asking how to share our documentary with friends and family, THE BONACKERS can be viewed on PBS Passport. We’re also streaming on Kanopy.com,- so almost anyone with a Library card can watch our film.
In 2026, we began airing on PBS stations across the country, so be on the lookout in your town. And stay tuned for more in-person screenings in theaters, schools and historical societies too.
THE BONACKERS 30 Second Promo
We’re grateful for the enthusiastic support that’s enabled us to produce and distribute our documentary, and create ongoing screenings and community gatherings.
In 2026, THE BONACKERS is airing on local PBS Stations across the country too, and new local screenings are in the works. We hope you’ll join us in creating a study guide for local schools too, so students can learn about the history of their towns and opportunities for the East End’s ongoing evolution.
THE BONACKERS is sponsored by the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), a 501(c)3, tax-exempt organization.
EVENTS
CELEBRATING BONAC COMMUNITY EVENT
at The Springs Historical Society & Community Library
East Hampton, NY
In October 2024, we held our fifth community gathering at Springs Historical Society & Community Library in collaboration with THE BONACKERS PROJECT and the Peter Matthiessen Center (PMC.) Wisdom keepers, baymen, and longtime locals shared sea shanties, stories, and traditions, with displays of decoy carving, quilts, pound traps, clamming techniques, whaling relics and wampum.
CELEBRATING BONAC COMMUNITY EVENT
at The East Hampton
Historical Farm Museum
East Hampton, NY
In September 2024, the East Hampton Historical Farm Museum, THE BONACKERS PROJECT and the Peter Matthiessen Center invited the East End community to “Speaking Bonac: Tales, Traditions and Wisdom.”
Linguist Dr. Nicholas Biniaz- Harris, Prudence Talmage Carabine, and Albie Lester introduced us to this unique way of speaking, in conversation with longtime locals.
Members of the Bonac community shared wisdom, wit and insights into a culture that’s at the heart of our community.
THE BONACKERS COMMUNITY GATHERING
at Clinton Academy’s
“Finest Kind” Exhibit
East Hampton, NY
In March 2024, The East Hampton Historical Society’s Educational Director Stacy Myers, invited us to host a small gathering of the local community at Clinton Academy’s “Finest Kind” exhibit.
The Academy’s walls were filled with photographs originally taken between 1981-1985 as part of Adelaide de Menil’s “Men’s Lives Project,” a venture she created to preserve the stories and history of the East End fishermen.
The room was filled with locals reconnecting with Adelaide, sharing memories and stories, and pointing out images of themselves, family members, and friends on the Academy’s walls.
CELEBRATING BONAC
at The East Hampton
Historical Farm Museum
East Hampton, NY
“An Afternoon of History, Traditions & Tales of Persistence,” opened with the short concept trailer for THE BONACKERS documentary, produced by Joanne Friedland Roberts. The trailer was a springboard for a lively conversation and Q&A about the history, struggles, and resilience of the Bonac community, the East End’s indigenous population, and East Hampton’s Freetown.
The conversation, led by the East Hampton Historical Farm Museum’s Founder, Prudence Talmage Carabine, included Deanna Tikkanen, Audrey Gaines, and Peter Van Scoyoc,.
CELEBRATING BONAC
at The Duck Creek Arts Center
East Hampton, NY
Our first event was a collaboration with the Peter Matthiessen Center that took place at the Duck Creek Arts Center in October 2023.
Participants explored cultural arts passed down through the generations, discovering the Bonac community’s unique history and lifestyle. Wisdom keepers, baymen and longtime locals shared tales, songs, stories and traditions–with displays of centuries-old crafts, decoy carving, fishing traps, wampum jewelry and beads. A traditional Native American blessing, sea shanties from the whaling days, and readings from Peter Matthiessen's 1986 classic Men’s Lives brought our diverse community together.
Concept Trailer
This 9-minute concept trailer served as a visual storyboard for THE BONACKERS 60-minute documentary. Shot with an iPhone and layered with historic footage and photographs it was created to generate partners and funding for our recently completed documentary.
Joanne Friedland
Roberts
Producer/Director
I started out as an educator and I’ve been producing TV shows, videos and websites for as long as I can remember. Running my own production company and working with major media companies like CBS, NBC, ABC/Disney, Nickelodeon and Sesame Workshop, I’ve won lots of awards along the way.
Over the years, I’ve created programming for institutions like PBS, the Smithsonian, the Brennan Center for Justice, and schools and museums across the country. I’ve always been drawn to content that builds community, sparks action and inspires change.
THE BONACKERS is my directorial debut and first independent documentary, and I'm passionate about introducing people to this little-known community on the east end of Long Island, sharing their salt of the sea sagas, wisdom, culture, and traditions. We’ve been generating awareness about their struggles with community-based conversations too.
Thank you for joining me on this venture!